• Known history from new, first registered in 1983 by VAG UK in Milton Keynes
• Thought to be one of just four Works Audi 80 quattros built at Ingolstadt
• Originally built by Audi Sport Germany
• Fielded by Audi Sport UK and David Sutton Motorsport in the 1983 British Open Rally Championship in Group B
• Converted by Audi Sport in 1984 to “Safari-spec”, and entered in the 1984 WRC Safari Rally, where it finished 1st in class, and 10th overall in Group A
• Fielded in the 1985 WRC Safari Rally, where it retired whilst leading its class
• Purchased by the consignor in 2014; restored to an extremely high standard from 2015 to 2016
• Participated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2017 and 2018, as well as Speed Machine in 2019
• Highly eligible for historic rally events including the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Rally Legends, and Slowly Sideways
• Accompanied by an impressive history file including FIA homologation papers and period photos, 1990 RAC Rally Pass, and restoration invoices

Announced in September 1978, the redesigned Audi 80 saloon began to reach European customers by October of that year. Based on the Volkswagen B2 platform, the body was penned by legendary automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who had previously designed cars such as the Alfa Romeo Alfasud, the De Tomaso Mangusta, and the Lotus Esprit. As part of a concerted effort to move upmarket, Audi intended for the 80 to compete directly with the BMW 3 Series in the compact executive saloon class.

Soon after the launch, Audi’s motorsport engineers turned their attention to the 80 platform, with a view to increasing performance and handling in order to participate in competition. Having already released the mesmerising four-wheel-drive Audi quattro B2—the all-conquering “Ur-quattro”, which shared the body shell and multiple components from the Coupé version of the Audi 80— the 80 line up became the first to receive Audi’s innovative four-wheel-drive technology. In 1983, Audi offered the 80 saloon in quattro specification, the top-of-the-range model further embellished by twin headlamps, a front spoiler with integrated fog lamps, a body-coloured rear spoiler, “quattro” script on the boot lid, and a twin-pipe exhaust.

On 2 March 1983, Audi Sport UK, in partnership with David Sutton Motorsport of Acton, London, announced that the Audi quattro and Audi 80 quattro would be entered in all rounds of the 1983 British Open Rally Championship. A copy of this press release is on file, with an image depicting three quattros and one quattro 80. The car offered here, chassis number 85DA126497, is the very example pictured in this 1983 Audi Sport press release.

CHASSIS 85DA126497

Manufactured at the beginning of 1983, chassis 85DA126497 was assembled at Audi’s Ingolstadt factory with the assistance of David Sutton Motorsport. It should be noted, that as an Audi Sport Works car, Matter-built bodies with significant reinforcements over a standard shell were supplied. In addition to the specialist body, the car featured a four-cylinder, 2.1-litre Group A quattro engine, further to suspension and other mechanical components—specifically made for Works cars—designated as Group B parts. The use of both Group A and B mechanicals resulted in the accompanying homologation papers classifying this example as “Group A/B”. The vehicle was purchased new by VAG UK of Milton Keynes, and first registered in early 1983 by Sutton Motorsport with the Isle of Man registration number “VMN 44”.

Shortly after its arrival in the United Kingdom, VMN 44 was entered into the Mintex International Rally in York, England. Numbered “6” and driven by Harald Demuth and Mike Greasley, the Audi 80 quattro performed well on its debut, finishing 5th overall and 4th in class B. Two months later, on 1 April 1983, the Audi made its way across the Irish sea to race at the Rothmans Circuit of Ireland. Driven again by Demuth and Greasley, the pair worked their way up from 10th to 6th overall by the fourth leg of the five-day rally. Unfortunately, towards the end of the fourth leg, at 27 km, the pair crashed at Taylors Hill, resulting in an early retirement.

Repaired after the incident in Ireland, the 80 quattro returned to Great Britain, ahead of being entered in the Castrol International Welsh Rally from 6 to 8 May 1983, racing at Builth & Llandrindod Wells on gravel and asphalt surfaces. Wearing number “15”, this Audi featured a revised driver line up, with Darryl Weidner replacing Demuth, sitting alongside Greasley. The duo fared well over the three days, moving up the table from 19th to 11th overall, finishing 5th in Group B. Demuth returned as the main driver for the Ulster Rally on 29 July 1983 for what would be the penultimate outing in of the year, though he and co-driver Arwed Fischer were unable to continue the Audi’s run of form, with an engine failure resulting in early retirement. The car was later registered in the United Kingdom by VAG UK, being issued with the registration number “A180 UNH” on 14 October 1983.

The final rally of 1983 was at the Audi Sport National Rally in Aberystwyth, Wales, on 15 October, an event that highlighted the competitive nature of the 80 quattro. Piloted by Francis Tuthill and Roger Freeman, the pair stormed their way up the rankings, charging from 25th in the first stage to 13th overall, ultimately finishing 1st in Class 3. Digitised period footage from the 1983 season can be found on file.

For 1984, the story of this rare Audi 80 quattro takes an interesting turn. Prepared either by Sutton Motorsport or Audi Sport Germany, the car was converted to “Safari-spec”, before entered in the 1984 Safari Rally. Piloted by Basil Critcos, alongside co-driver John Rose, the Audi was campaigned wearing the Kenyan registration plate “KWD 473”. After leasing the car from VAG UK, Critcos became the second owner of the 80 quattro. He received factory support from Audi while he raced in Kenya, as it was an official Audi Sport entry.

This Audi made its African debut in Nairobi, Kenya at the 1984 Marlboro Safari Rally on 19 April. Assigned race number “28”, Critcos and Rose campaigned hard in the only Audi 80 in a competitive class. After five intense days, the duo’s hard work and determination had paid off, with the car coming home 10th overall and 1st in the A8 class. Relative to its peers, the 80 quattro proved a hardy and consistent competitor, finishing 13 places ahead of the vehicle that finished 2nd in the A8 class.

Disappointingly, the duo’s success wasn’t to be repeated, with an abortive attempt at the 1985 Safari Rally resulting in early retirement. After the dust had settled, Critcos sent the Audi from Kenya back to the Audi UK to be re-prepared by Paul Ridgeway, a mechanic recommended to Critcos, used by both Audi UK and Sutton Motorsport. On 13 February 1986, Ridgeway registered the car in his name. He kept the Audi for three years, before it was bought by Chris Collins with the intention of contesting the 1989 Mintex Rally, as he had crashed his car in previous event. Following the rally, Collins sold the car to its fourth owner, Roy Gillingham of PIM Racing, on 26 May 1989. While uncovering the history of this vehicle, the current owner met Collins, who stated that the car performed exceptionally well in rough and slippery rally stages.

Gillingham’s first event in the 80 quattro was at the 1989 Shell Oils Cumbria Rally on 2 September 1989, which he entered with co-driver Stuart Larbey. Starting in 56th place, the duo climbed up the rankings over 120 km of loose surface stages to finish 48th overall, and 9th in the A8 Class. The car’s next outing was at the 1989 Lombard RAC Rally in Nottingham, England. Starting on 19 November, the punishing five-leg rally covered a total distance of 3,082 km. Gillingham and Larbey began the race in 52nd position, finishing 45th overall, and 20th in the A8 Class.

Following the end of the 1989 season, Gillingham decided to update the car by removing front and rear sections, replacing them with updated Audi 90 panels while the rest of the exterior was painted in white with red, grey and black. After completion, Gillingham registered the Audi with the RAC Motor Sports Association and applied for a Rally Special Stage Vehicle Log Book, which is included in the history file. Issued on 24 January 1990, this car was officially recognised as an Audi 90 quattro and entered its first and final event of that year—the 115 km Mazda Winter Rally. Numbered “57”, Gillingham and Stuart finished 26th overall, and 13th in their class. After the rally, Gillingham decided to field another one of his vehicles in future events, and placed the 80 quattro into long-term storage.

In 2014, while at a track day event, the current owner was informed of an ex-Works Audi 80 quattro that had remained in storage for 25 years. At the time it was thought that no ex-Works cars remained in the public sphere, but the soon-to-be owner went down to inspect Gillingham’s car and discovered that it in fact was a long-lost ex-Works Audi 80 quattro. Passionate about rally cars, he decided to purchase this rare Audi, knowing nothing about its past, but understanding that this vehicle was equipped with a significant number of rare Audi Sport Group A/B components found only on ex-Works vehicles. Discovering an example that retained so many of its Works components is highly unusual due to their rarity and value. So, Gillingham